11 Bizarre Roadside Attractions In Kentucky That Will Make Do A Double Take

As you drive across the beautiful lands of our state, you might be amazed at all there is too see. We are blessed with scenic beauty, heartfelt traditions… and a few unusual places. Billboard advertisements grace the roads, promoting renowned places and bizarre roadside attractions in Kentucky. These are things you probably won’t see anywhere else, so why not take a peek if you are in the area?

Here are 11 bizarre roadside attractions in Kentucky you won’t see anywhere else:

If you are sober but still seeing a pink elephant in Guthrie, it isn’t an illusion. A huge pink pachyderm calls 10417 Dixie Beeline Hwy in Guthrie home, and has for years. Within sight, visitors will also see a cow with sunglasses. Why? We honestly don’t know.

The giant rooster on the south side of Hwy 245 has been a landmark and tourist attraction for decades. The Rooster Run General Store at 6516 New Shepherdsville Road in Bardstown is not what it was in its heyday, but it is still a popular place to stop for a picture.

Moonlite BBQ at 2840 W Parrish Ave in Owensboro is home to the biggest burgoo pot in Kentucky, and it sits outside in plain view. You might not find it full of burgoo, but the pot and giant chef head represent the BIG flavor in this little barbecue restaurant. While you're there, try some of their famed food and fixin’s.

From 1974 till 2011, this oddly shaped building housed a pharmacy, though today it is a liquor store. The architectural design was done to mimic a giant mortar and pestle, like utilized by old fashioned pharmacists and herbalists. The unique building still stands at 1465 Village Drive in Lexington.

This museum at 1600 Montague Road in Covington started back around 1950 with some unique oddities, like a Siamese calf with two bodies, a shrunken head and a gianormous ball of string. These three exhibits were part of the owners original collection prior to his death. There is also traditional and cultural items in the facility that represent the heart of our state, such as folk art, handmade quilts, clothing, photographs and more.

6. Cocaine Bear

Halley Shannon

The last thing the world needs is bears on cocaine… but located at 720 Bryan Avenue in Lexington, visitors will find the renowned “cocaine bear.” How did the bear get its name? Well, a smuggler named Andrew Thornton was transporting cocaine in 1985 and ran into issues. He tossed out 10 duffle bags of illegal cargo over a forest, than parachuted out himself with 77 more pounds strapped to his body. He did not survive, nor did the bear that found and consumed his cargo.

The World Peace Bell is one of the most renowned attractions in the beautiful city of Newport. It can be found at 425 York Street and commemorates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This massive bell measures 12 feet wide and weighs in at 66,000 pounds.

Mother Goose has been a beloved fairy tale figure for decades, and one man decided to immortalize her architecturally. The home at 2906 North Main Street in Hazard was built by an individual for his family. Even the windows maintain the theme by being egg/oval shaped. Since he and his family moved on, the home has been used for both a business and a home over the years.

Sleep in a wigwam is the slogan at 601 N. Dixie Hwy in Cave City. Visitors can sleep in these unique, traditional teepee shaped individual hotels. Instead of having a room, you have an entire mini building, so you won’t hear the neighbors knocking on the wall.

The giant floral clock is located behind the state capital building to west on Capital Street, east of Shelby in Frankfort. During the spring and summer months it is a collage of color and a perfect photo background. The little girl helps to understand the sheer size of this living time piece, and it works.

Located at 14750 Ovil Road in Hopkinsville, this is one of the Bluegrass State’s newest, affordable, unique attractions. It is an exact replica of an old timey ranch town. This community caught in time and all its residents will take you straight back into the days of the wild, wild west. You can watch an old fashioned shoot out, tour the buildings, including a saloon, and enjoy some quality conversations with the local cowboys and tavern girls. This has even been the site of two short films, “The Switch,” and “The Prisoner of Perdition.” If you are a fan of the old west, you can’t beat seeing and being a part of it, live.

There is always something new, old, gorgeous or untold to see and hear in the Bluegrass State. We wrote about unique spots in the past, and some were worth mentioning again. In the future, if you are traveling, these bizarre roadside attractions in Kentucky rank among the most memorable.

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I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.